Orchard-cultivator.



E. BROWN.

ORCHARD CULTIVATOR. APPLICATION FILED AUG.,1912.

Patented sept. 16, v1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ATTORNEY.

' COLUMBIA' PLANQGRAPH cu.. WASHINGTON. D, CY

' E. BROWN. ORCHARD CULTIVATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED Amm, 1912.

Patented Sept. v16, 1913.

3 SHBETS*SHEET 2.

ATTO R N EY i L? H rIIII llt Q um WITNESSES QQ LULUMBIA) PLANOGRAPH ClLNIASIIlNumNy D. c.

E. BROWN.

ORCHARD GULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. s, 1912.

APatented Sept. 16, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

.SQ um. www

EZQNOW, INVENTOF!l WITNESSES- ATTO R N EY CQLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH provide an orchard cultivator of this char-` Umani) srn'rns PATENT ormoni.

EUGENE BROWN, OF COLFAX, "WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR T0 COLFAX MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., OF COLFAX, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

ORCHARD-CULTIVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 16,1913.

Application filed August 6, 1912. Serial N o. 713,693.

paratively inexpensive cultivator of greatV strength and durability, equipped with means for enabling it to be attached to a tree, and capable of cultivating the soil around the trees to the desired extent, depth and distance from the tree according to the character of the ground.

A further object of the invention is to acter, adapted to be adjusted to the trunks of trees of different diameters, and capable of operation Without interference from the branches of the trees, so thatthe limbs may be permitted to grow as close to the ground as desired.

The invention also has for its object to provide an orchard cultivator adapted to be rotated around the tree in either direction to throw the soil either toward or from the tree, and capable also of being employed with a cent-ral draft pole or tongue when it is desired to use the cultivator for ordinary cultivation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists Vin the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that vario-us changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacri iicing any of the advantages of the invention. v

In the drawings Figure l is a plan view of an orchard cultivator, constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to a tree, the latter being in section. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the outer end of the cultivator. Fig. 4 is an enlarged central longitudinal sectional view of the outer portions of the cultivator. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5*.5 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view partly in section of the tree clamp and the bearing for the inner end of the cultivator. Fig. 7 is .a vertical sectional view of the same on the vline 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a similar view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the rotary bearing ring. Fig. l0 is a detail view, illustrating the construction of the overlapped ends of the sections of the stationary ring or member and the means for securing the same together. Fig. l1 is a plan view of the cultivator, a `central draft pole or tongue being applied to the same to adapt it for ordinary cultivation. Fig. l2 is a vertical sectional view, taken longitudinally with respect to the Vdraft pole or tongue, the latter being shown in elevation. Fig. 18 is a detail view of the `ratchet device for raising and lowering the disks and the ground wheels. Figs. 14 and ll5 are detail views, illustrating the manner of attaching the cult-ivator teeth to the frame of the cultivator.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings in which -is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame of the cultivator comprises in its construction parallel longitudinal bars l, constructed of angle metal or other suitable material and connected at their terminals by end bars 2 and braced at intervals by crossed diagonally arranged bars 3, centrally secured together and having their terminals fastened to horizontal flanges et, extending inwardly at the bottom or lower edges of the longitudinal bars l. rFhe longitudinal fianges 5 of the end bars are fitted against and secured to the lower faces of the horizontal flanges 4C of the longitudinal bars l. The fcultivator frame, which is oblong, may, however, be `constructed of any other suitable material and be braced in any desired manner.

rSthe frame is provided at its ends and center with relatively iixed bearing brackets or standards 6 and 7, each constructed of a single piece of rod metal, or other suitable material angularly bent at the center to provide a lower approximately U-shaped loop or portion 8 and front and rear in clined sides, which have their upper terminals 9 secured to the outer faces of the lon- Y ards receive bearing boxes 10 for the reception of a horizontal shaft 11 upon which concavo convex cultivator disks 12 are mounted at regular intervals, but cultivator teeth or shovels may be employed if desired, as hereinafter more fully explained. rlhe journal boxes or bearings 10, which are rectangular to fit the lower loops or bends of the standards, are suitably secured within thev same.l j

The cultivator frame is equipped at its ends with guides 13, arrangedv in pairs and consisting of angularly bent plates,riveted o r otherwise secured tothe outer faces of the end bars of the cultivator frame and forming vertical openings for the reception of vertically disposed relatively movable standards 14, having forked or bifurcated lower portions 15 for the reception of ground wheels 16 and connected at their upper ends by a horizontal top bar 17. The sides of the forks or bifurcations 15 ofthe standards 14 are provided with suitable bearings in which are arranged the shafts or axles 18 of the ground wheels 16, which are adapt ed to regulate the depth which the cultivator' disks penetrate the soil and also to support the disks in an elevated position above the ground when transferring the cultivator from one orchard or field to another. Y

The relative adjustment o f the cultivator frame and the ground wheels is effected by means of drums 19, located at the ends of the cultivator` frame and each having a grooved periphery for the recept-ion of a cable 20, or other flexible connection, which is attached at one end to the drum and at its other end to the top connecting bar 17 of the relatively movable standards `14.

The drum is adapted to be rotated to wind the cable 2O around its periphery and to unwind it therefrom, and it is provided with an arm or lever 21, connectedwith the drum at the outer face thereof and adapted to be 'pcscillated to partially rotate the drinn. 1When the cables are wound around the l24 adapted to lock the drinn against retrogradeV rotation.

No claim is made in the present application to the means for adjusting the ground or gage wheels 16.

The cultivator frame is equipped at each end with a slidable frame 25, supported by Y the horizontal flanges 4 of the longitudinal` bars V1 and arranged between and guided by the latter and retained in place thereon by overhanging approximately L-shaped flanges 25a. The overhanging flanges 25a, which engage the upper edges and the inner faces of the sides of the slidable frame, preferably consist of plates provided with exterior attaching port-ions, riveted or otherwise secured to the outer faces of the longitudinal bars 1. The slidable frame,

which i's oblong, is composed `of spaced front` turned ,outer terminals 33, detachably ar ranged in eyes 34 of a rotary ring or member 35. The angularly bent terminals 31 and 33 are retained in theeyes 28 and 34 by means of keys 36 and 37, or other suitable fastening devices, and they are adapt# ed to be transferredfrom one end of the cultivator frame to the other, but the connectingbarso-r rods 32 and the means for,

connecting the same with the trunk 33 of. a tree may be duplicated so that either end of the cultivator frame may be connected with the tree without transferring the connecting means'fromone end vof the cultivator to theother.

rfhe inner portions of Y the horizontal bars are arranged at the outer i Y faces of the longitudinal bars 1 of the cultivator frame to maintain the saine inrigid relation with the cultivator frame. a

'The inner end bar 27 of the slidablefranie 25 is provided with a central perforation 3Q for the reception of an angularly bent end 40 of a rod 41, extending from the slidable frame to and pivotally connected with an operating lever 42. The leveris also provided with a perforation 43, and the'adjacent end 44 of the rod is bentjat an angle and is larranged in the perfo'ration`43 of the lever. The ends of the connecting rod 41 form pivots and are suitably secured to the slidable frame and the lever. The operating lever 42 is provided'at Vits front end with a hea-d 45, connected with the body por- Y tion of the lever by a reduced portion or neck and adapted `to be arranged in either of the openings 46of the front and rear bars 1,

whereby it is adapted to be reversed to suit the arrangement ofthe draft rod 47, which is also adapted to be reversed to enable the ist villustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and

adapted to be engagedby the operating lever for securing the slidable and cultivator frames in their relative adjustment and for holding the cultivator frame against inward direction on the tree 88.`

rlhe rotary ring or member 85 is adjustably mounted on the tree 38 by means of an adjustable tree clamp 49 and a relatively xed bearing supported by the same. The tree clamp, which is composed of two approximately semicircular sections, is equipped at the inner faces thereof with a pad 50 consisting of a sleeve of fabric or other flexible material adapted to preventthe clamp from injuring the tree. .The terminals 5l of the sect-ions of the clamp are bent outwardly and perforated for the reception of bolts 52 having nuts 53 and adapted to be adjusted to cause the sections of the clamp toY grip the trunk of a tree with the desired pressure. By the adjusting means of the clamp, the latter is adapted to be readily secured to the trunks of trees of different diameters, and the clamp is also separable to admit it to be readily applied to and removed from the trunk of a tree.

The tree clamp is equipped with upper and lower horizontal supporting arms 54 and 55, arranged in pairs and receiving and supporting a relatively stationary ring or member V56. The arms 54 and 55 are provided with vertical attaching portions 57 and 58, which are riveted or otherwise secured to the sections ofthe tree clamp. The supporting arms, which extend radially from the tree clamp at the lower edge thereof, permit the sections of the tree clamp to be moved inwardly and outwardly with respect to the relatively stationary ring or member to permit the clamp to engage trees of dif,- ferent sizes. The supporting arms 54 and are provided with registering perforations 59 adapted to receive cotter pins 60, or other suitable `fastening means, which are placed at the'inner edge of the stationary ring or member 56 for holding the same in a relatively fixed position.

The stationary ring or member is composed of two approximately semi-circular sections provided at one end with a suitable hinge joint 61 and having their other ends p 62 and 68 beveled, overlapped and interlocked, one of the terminals 62 being provided with a transverse rib 641 to lit in a corresponding transverse groove 65 of the other end 68 o-f the stationary ring ormember. The inner interlocked faces of the overlapped ends are inclined, and they are se- -cured in their interlocked relation by means of a latch 66, pivoted at one end to one of the sections of the stationary member or ring and overlapping the other section of the same and provided at its free end with a loop or handle. The latch is secured in its engaging position by means of a cotter pin 67 or other suitable fastening device, which pierces the latch and the overlapped ends 62 and 63 of the sections of the stationary ring or member. The stationary ring or member is adapted to be opened to permit it to be placed between the supporting arms of the tree clamp and to enable it to be removed therefrom. The stationary ring or member is also provided with upper and lower horizontal arms 68 and 69, arranged in pairs and consisting of plates or pieces secured at their inner portions to the upper and lower faces of t-he stationary ring or member and extending radially therefrom and supporting vertical anti-friction rollers and suitable pivots or spindles 7l, which pierce the upper and lower arms 68 epd 69. The lower arms 69 terminate adjacent to the outer portions of the vertical rollers, and the stationary ring or member is equipped with horizontal supporting rollers 72, extending outwardly from the lowerends of the vertical anti-friction rollers 70 and mounted on horizontal spindles 78. The horizontal rollers 7 2 are located beneath and in parallelism with the outer portions of the upper arms 68 and the spindles 7 8, which are preferably provided at their outer ends with heads, having inner shanlrs or attaching portions 74, which are secured to the lower faces of the arms 69 by the fastening means thereof and also by the vertical spindles 71, which are also preferably headed at their terminals.

The stationary ring or member with its anti-friction bearings constitute a bearing for the rotary ring or member 85, which is also composed of two approximately semicircular members, connected at one end by a suitable hinge joint and having their other ends 76 and 77 beveled, overlapped and interlocked similar to the overlapped ends of the stationary ring or member. The overlapped ends are secured in their interloclred relation by means of a pin 78, or other suitable fastening device, which pierces the overlapped ends 76 and 77. The antifriction rollers permit the movable ring or member 35 to rotate frictionlessly around the trunk of a tree and there is no material strain on the latter.

The draft rod 47, which extends longitudinally of the frame, is arranged at an acute angle to the front longitudinal bar l, and is secured at its inner end 79 to the same and is provided at its outer end with an arm 80 detachably secured to the outer end of the front longitudinal bar 1 and offsetting the draft rod 47 from the same.

The

circular bearing supported between the said arms, fastening devices adjustably mounted in the said pertorations for maintaining the circular bearing in a relatively fixed position, a rotary member mounted in the bearing, and a cultivator trame having culti vating devices and connected With the rotary member.

7. A cultivator of the class described including'a tree clamp provided with means for engaging the trunk of a tree and having adjustable supporting means, a bearing comprising a sectional ring or member carried by the said supporting means, a sectional rotary ring or member mounted in the said bearing, and a cultivator frame having-cultivating devices` and connected With the rotary ring or member.

8. A cultivato-r ofthe class described comprising a bearing including a relatively stationary ring composed loit sections hinged together at one end and overlapped and inter-locked at the other end, a clamp adapted to engage the trunk of a tree and adjustably supporting the bearing, fastening means for securing the overlapped ends of the stationary ring in their interlccked relation, a rotary member mounted in the bearing, and a. cultivator frame connected with the rotary member and having cultivating devices.

9. A cultivator of the class described comprisng a clamp for engaging the trunkof a tree and having adjustable supporting means, a bearing including a relatively stationary ring supported by the said means and composed of hinged sections detachably secured together, a rotary ring mounted in the said bearing and also composed of hinged sections detachably secured together, and a cultivator frame connected With the rotary ring and having cultivating devices.

10. A cultivator of the class described comprising a circular bearing provided With radial supporting arms having vertical and horizontal anti-friction rollers, means for securing the bearing around the trunk of a tree, a rotary ring arranged upon the-horizontal rollers and itted against the vertical rollers of the said bearing, and a cultivator frame having cultivating devices and connected With the rotary ring.

11. A cultivator of the class described comprising a bearing, means for securing the same around the trunk of a tree, a rotary member mounted in the said bearing, a substantially radially arranged cultivator frame having cultivating devices, and means for adjustably connecting the inner end of the cultivator frame With the rotary member for arranging the cultivating devices dierent distances from a tree.

12. A cultivator of the class described including a bearing, means for securing the same around the trunk of a tree, a rotary member mounted in the bearing, a cultivator frame having cultivating devices, and means `for connecting the rotary member with either end of the cultivator frame.

13. A cultivator of the class described including a bearing, means for securing the same around the trunk of a tree, a rotary ring mounted in the bearing, a cultivator frame having cultivating devices, an adjustable trame slidably mounted on the cultivator frame, means for connecting the adjustable frame with the rotary member, and means for adjusting the said frame.

14. A cultivator of the class described including a bearing, means for securing the same around the trunk of a tree, a rotary ring mounted in the bearing, a cultivator frame having cultivating devices, an adjustable framefslidably mounted on the cultivator frame, means for connecting the adjustable frame With the rotary ring, an operating lever fulcrumed on the cultivator frame and connected With the adjustable frame, and means for securing'the lever in its adjustment- 15. A cultivator of the class described including a bearing, means for securing the same around thetrunlt of a tree, a rotary ring mounted in the bearing, a cultivator frame having cultivating devices, an adjustable :trame slidably mounted on the cultivator frame, means for connecting the adjustable frame with the rotary ring, an operating lever connected With the adjustable frame and extending beyond the cultivato-r frame, means for fulcruming the lever at either side of the cultivator frame, and means for securing the lever in its adjustment.

16. A cultivator of the class described including a bearing, means for securing the same around the trunk of a tree, a rotary ring mounted in the bearing, a cultivator frame provided at the 'front and bach With. ratchet teeth, a slidable frame mounted on the cultivator trame and connected Wit-h the rotary ring, and a reversible lever ulcrumed on the cultivator frame and extending beyond the same and adapted to be arranged to cooperate With t-he ratchet teeth of either side of the frame.

17. A cultivator of the class described including a bearing, means for securing the same around the trunk of a tree, a rotary ring mounted in the bearing, a cultivator frame, slidable frames mounted on the cultivator frame at the end portions thereof, means for connecting the rotary 1ing With either of the slidable frames, and `nieans for adjusting the same.

18. A cultivator of the class described including a bearing, means for securing the same around the trunk of a tree, a rotary ring mounted in the bearing, a cultivator frame, slidable frames mounted on the cultivatoi' frame at the 'end portions thereof, means for connecting the rotary ring With either' of the slidable frames,- `anV operating" lever fulcrumed bet-Ween the slidable frames, and means for connecting `the operating lever with either of the slidabl'e frames.

19. A cultivator of the class described including a bearing, means for securing the posite sides with longitudinal slots, a slid'v able frame mounted on the cultivatr frame and having eyes eXteridin through the slots', ianges carried by the ou tivator frame and e'iite'nding over and engaging the slidable frame, a bearing, means for securing the bearing around a tree, a rotary member ar'- ranged in the bearing, and rods Connected with the rotary member and tvith the' eyes of the slidable frame,

21. cultivato'r' of the class described in cluding a bearing, means for securing' the seme around the trunk of 'a tree, a rotary member mounted in the bearing', a etiltivatoi frame ednnected with the rotary member, disks mounted on the ultivator frame, and a draft device havingmeans for connecting it @either side of' the cultivator frame feienabling the latter to be rotated aroundra tree in either direction.

22; ciiltirator of the class described cludint; a bearing, means for securing the saine around the trunk of a tree, a rotary member mounted in the bearing, a cu'ltivator.

same around the trunk of a tree, aV rotary member mounted in the bearing, a eultivator frame connected with therotary member, disks mounted on the cultivator' frame, iid a dra-ft rod connected at its inner end te the eultiva'tor frame and arranged at an angle to ythe same and provided at its outer end with an arm seeured to thecultivator frame and oi'settin'g the draft rod therefroin, said dara rod being rfbvided at its' ihm" per tion' with a hook Having portion.

n1 testimny, that i Claim the forego-ing as my m'vh, I have hrte affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

EUGENE BRWN.

an eye at its o'nter ivitness'eus: Y

CARRIE SLA'rm, F. L. Sroirtm.

pies of this patent :lily be obtained for ve cents eeh, addressing the ommi'ssonvei of ateits,

washington, D. c. 

